NIO is one of the Chinese car manufacturers who also wants to set foot on European soil in due course. The brand introduced itself with the ES8, an electric SUV that has been subtly modified.
NIO is a relatively young manufacturer who already showed an exciting electric racer in 2016: the EP9. The first production car actually intended for the Chinese car market was the ES8, an SUV presented at the end of 2017 that was later joined by the also electric ES6 and the EC6. The ES8 has now been subtly addressed and benefits from a variant with a battery pack with a capacity of 100 kWh.
The ES8 was initially only available with a 70 kWh and with an 84 kWh battery pack, with which the 5-meter SUV should be able to achieve a NEDC range of 355 and 425 kilometers, respectively. NIO has made a series of unspecified adjustments, with which the variant with the smallest battery pack should now be able to travel 415 kilometers. The variant with the 84 kWh package now comes 485 kilometers on a charge. Interesting is the arrival of a new top version with a battery pack with a capacity of 100 kWh, good for a NEDC range of 580 kilometers.
In terms of appearance, the renewed ES8 is hardly distinguishable from the original. NIO adjusts the front and rear bumpers and the silver finish in the muzzle is slightly different than before. In addition, the SUV benefits from the arrival of dynamic turn signals. NIO also makes changes to the interior, mainly related to the materials used and the format of the digital displays. Behind the wheel is a 9.8-inch digital instrument panel. An 11.3-inch vertically oriented display is placed in the center console. The ES8 has a 218 hp electric motor on the front axle, which is assisted by a 326 hp strong one on the rear axle. The ES8 should therefore be able to sprint in 4.9 seconds to a speed of 100 km / h.
The ES8, which is available with both six and seven seats, has a starting price of around € 60,000 in China. For the top version with the 100 kWh package, NIO requires at least around € 68,000.